THE PRESS BOX.

Pole vaulters to wear helmets

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho State pole vaulters will wear helmets at a weekend meet following the death of at least three vaulters nationally this year.

The helmets, similar to those worn by skaters, will be light but still provide good head protection, track and field coach Dave Nielsen said Friday.

"This is a visible step for us, and I think the sport will continue to take other steps to protect the vaulters," said Nielsen, whose team will compete at a meet in Missoula, Mont. He coached 2000 Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila and was the Big Ten pole vault champion in 1976.

Samoa Fili II, a 17-year-old high school student in Wichita, Kan., died Monday, two days after an attempt at a 12-foot vault. His body hit the landing mat but his head struck the pavement.

In February, Penn State vaulter Kevin Dare died after a headfirst fall at the Big Ten indoor meet.

A 16-year-old, Jesus Quesada, died in an accident during practice in February at Clewiston High School in Florida.